Andrea’s story: in pursuit of simplicity
Sometimes the life you imagine takes a while to arrive. For Andrea, originally from Slovakia, it took years of dreaming, planning, and waiting for the right moment before her family finally made their move to Spain.
When Andrea and her dutch husband, Boy, first started talking about moving to Spain, they weren’t chasing luxury or adventure. They simply wanted fresh air and light. A life that happened outdoors.
“What I hoped for when moving here was very simple,” Andrea says. “We just wanted to live more outside. We lived in the Netherlands, where it was always raining, always windy, always dark. Life happened indoors, and it started to feel claustrophobic. We spent weekends in soft play centres because being outside for more than 20 minutes was impossible without getting soaked.”
Over time, that life began to feel small. “We are outdoor people,” she says. “We love the beach, the sun, to be outside as a family. Simple things. And that’s exactly what we have now. We are very happy. It has become our reality.”
The long path to Spain
Andrea and Boy had imagined a warmer lifestyle for years. They spent their early twenties travelling, working in different countries, and learning languages along the way (the family now happily shift between four languages!).
“We tried a few things before settling here,” she recalls. “We lived in Barcelona for a short time. I worked as a Zumba instructor, but it was difficult for my husband to find consistent work, so we went back to the Netherlands.”
Life moved quickly after that. They got married, started careers, had children, and then COVID arrived. “Suddenly twelve years had passed,” Andrea says with a soft laugh. “We were still living the same life as before, still talking about moving somewhere warmer.”
Then an opportunity appeared out of nowhere. “My husband was travelling for padel training and met someone who offered him a coaching opportunity in Spain,” she explains. “It felt right immediately. We both looked at each other and said, let’s go. The decision happened fast, but it took us about a year to prepare, sell our house, and make the move.”
That year of waiting built anticipation. “It felt so right,” Andrea says. “Like something we had been meant to do all along.”
More present parenting
Since moving, Andrea says her whole approach to parenting has transformed. In the Netherlands, her work as a nurse meant long, irregular days. “Life went by so fast. I often felt I didn’t get enough real time with my children,” she says.
Spain changed everything. “Here, I am with them so much more. We’re outside all the time—at the beach, by the pool, walking through town. It’s the best period of my life. I feel present, and this is exactly the life I dreamed of.”
Her children attend a traditional Spanish school in a small pueblo, surrounded by local families. “It’s been wonderful for them,” she explains. “They are learning Spanish so quickly and becoming part of the community. We are all learning together—a new language, a new culture, new customs. It’s a beautiful journey as a family.”
Finding community and connection
Andrea admits she was surprised by how easy it was to find her circle in Spain. “I didn’t expect such a big, supportive network of mums,” she says. “From the first day, people offered help, advice, and friendship. It’s been amazing.”
As a self-confessed introvert, Andrea never saw herself as the person to go out of her way to make friends, but the environment changed that. “Life here happens outside. You meet people walking, at the playground, at the beach. Friendships happen naturally, without pressure or trying. It’s improved my life more than I could have imagined, and I’m so grateful.”
A new direction in work and life
Spain also gave Andrea the space to rethink her career. After more than twenty years in healthcare, she decided it was time for something different. “In the past few months, I finally had time to reflect on what I really enjoy,” she says. “Sports and movement have always been a big part of my life. I used to play volleyball professionally and taught Zumba for years.”
Her next step felt obvious. “I decided to become a certified Pilates instructor,” she says proudly. “And I’m studying in Spanish, so I’m learning two things at once. It’s not easy, but it’s incredibly rewarding.”
Studying in a new language is no small thing, and Andrea’s determination is a reflection of how many mums who move abroad adapt in big, transformative ways. Learning new skills, building new careers, and finding ways to fit work around family life is something Andrea sees as part of the adventure. “It’s challenging,” she admits, “but it makes me proud of what I’m achieving.”
Andrea hopes to start her own classes soon and even branch into online sessions. “It’s something that connects my passions: movement, health, and helping others. After years of caring for patients, this feels like a way of caring that’s also healing for me.”
Learning to slow down
There have been challenges along the way, especially with the cultural shift. “The contrast between northern Europe and southern Europe is huge,” Andrea explains. “In the Netherlands, I always felt a sense of urgency, like the clock ruled everything. Here, it’s different. Time is flexible. People meet when they meet. It’s about the moment, not the schedule.”
At first, that adjustment was hard. “I had to unlearn that pressure of always being efficient,” she says. “But now, I am beginning to appreciate this slower, easier rhythm. Life feels lighter this way.”
A life that finally fits
After years of dreaming about a warmer, more open way of living, Andrea’s family have found it among their neighbours, community, and sunlit days.
“Sometimes I think back to those grey days in the Netherlands,” she says. “Endless rain, rushing everywhere, always inside. Now, I wake up to blue skies and my kids running outside. It feels like such a gift.”
She smiles, thinking about how far they’ve come. “We wanted a simple life outdoors, and that’s exactly what we have. It’s enough.”
Today, Andrea and her family are settled in southern Spain, surrounded by sunshine, community and a pace of life that finally feels like their own.
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